The name 'Avocado' originates from the Aztec name ahuacacuauhitl meaning testicle tree!

The avocado is a dense, evergreen tree, shedding many leaves in early spring. It is fast growing, and generally branches to form a broad tree. Some cultivars are columnar, others selected for nearly prostrate form. Growth is in frequent flushes during warm weather in southern regions with only one long flush per year in cooler areas.

Grafted plants normally produce fruit within one to two years compared to 8 - 20 years for seedlings.

Avocado flowers are crosspollinated which means that developing independent genetic lines is difficult. In fact, crosspollination is promoted in the flowers by the stigma of a flower being receptive to pollen prior to pollen being released from that same flower. Avocado trees produce thousands of flowers and only about one in 5000 sets fruit. Considering it originated from South American forests, the Avocado is remarkable in its ability to thrive under a broad range of environmental conditions. It needs water and no frost and prefers unleached, nonacid soils, sun, and dry air.

The flesh of avocados is deep green near the skin, becoming yellowish nearer the single large, inedible ovoid seed. The flesh is hard when harvested but softens to a buttery texture. Wind-caused abrasion can scar the skin, forming cracks which extend into the flesh. "Cukes" are seedless, pickle-shaped fruits. Off-season fruit should not be harvested with the main crop, but left on the tree to mature. Seeds may sprout within an avocado when it is over-mature, causing internal molds and breakdown.

High in monosaturates, the oil content of avocados is second only to olives among fruits, and sometimes greater. Clinical feeding studies in humans have shown that avocado oil can reduce blood cholesterol. The Avocado fruit is an important food in South America and is nutritious with high levels of mainly unsaturated oils, minerals, vitamins and reasonable levels of protein. The oil is evidently similar in composition to olive oil.

Types of Avocado

W - West Indian type avocados produce enormous, smooth round, glossy green fruits that are low in oil and weigh up to 2 pounds. They are summer- or fall-ripening. They have leathery, pliable, non-granular skin. The leaves are not aromatic. Grown in Florida, West Indies, Bahamas, Bermuda, and the tropics of the Old World. Not grown in California.

G - Guatemalan types produce medium ovoid or pear-shaped, pebbled green fruits that turn blackish-green when ripe. Guatemalan avocadoes are primarily winter and spring ripening. Skin varies from thin to very thick and is granular or gritty. The flesh is rich in flavor and relatively high in oil content. Grown in both Florida and California.

M - Mexican varieties - the fruit of are small (6 - 10 ounces) with paper-thin skins that turn glossy green or black when ripe. The tender skin clings to the flesh. The flesh has a high oil content, up to 30%. Leaves have a pronounced anise-like scent and are favored for cooking. The tree is more cold-resistant.

Avocado varieties available from Top Tropicals

Picture

Name of variety

Ripening Season

Plant size

Production

Fruit Shape / Size

fruit color

Cold
tolerance

Comments

Type

Place of Origin

Brazos Belle

October-November

medium-large, long

purple-black

Very cold hardy

Produces medium-large, purple-black long fruit. Season: October-November.
Can take temperatures down to 15F for short period of time without significant damage.

M

Texas

Brogdon

late summer-fall

small to medium tree, medium vigor

low productivity

pear-shaped
7 to 15 Oz

red-purple

very
high

Brogdon has red-purple colored pear-shaped fruit. Weight 7 to 15 Oz. Skin is very thin. Yellow buttery flesh. It is an excellent choice for guacamole lovers. Fruit ripens in late summer-fall. Very cold hardy. Good for Central Florida. Originated in Winter have, Florida, by Tom Brogdon.

M

Florida

Choquette

January to March

medium size tree

bears heavily in alternate years

oval,
very large
30-40 Oz

dark green, slightly leathery

low

Choquette is a late season favorite Florida avocado producing very large fruits. 30-40 Oz fruit. Skin glossy, smooth, dark green, slightly leathery. Flesh thick, yellow, very good quality. Oil content 13%. Seed medium , tight. Resistant to common avocado diseases. Recommended for home plantings in Florida. This avocado is where quality intersects quantity, and it is quickly becoming a favorite to Florida’s winter residents.

GxW

Florida

Day

July through September

slender tree

shaped like a club

green,
smooth skin

high

Day avocado is green, smooth skin and is shaped like a club. The fruit is of very good quality and has a nice buttery consistency. The slender tree is very cold tolerant and produces July through September.

Fantastic

green, paper thin skin

Very cold hardy

Very cold hardy variety, supposedly the most most cold hardy of all avocados. Produces green, paper thin skin. The fruit has a creamy texture.
Can take temperatures down to 15F for short period of time without significant damage.

Local Florida variety originated in Wauchula, which is cold place, comparing to South Florida. This variety survived winter of 2009 in Wauchula, when temperature dropped to low 20sF, without any significant damages. Very unusual medium size fruit - round yellow and smooth skin; creamy-yellow flesh.

The Hass avocado is dark-colored with a rough and bumpy skin. Will turn black when ripe. Medium size, 10 Oz. Flesh creamy, flavor excellent, no fiber, oil content 18-25%. It is renowned for is rich nutty flavor and high oil content. Skin leathery, rough, dark purple to black when ripe, thick. Seed small, tight in cavity. Keeping qualities excellent, good shipper. Heavy bearing. Starts bearing the second year. Leading commercial cultivar in California. This is the most popular commercially grown variety. The trees do have a wide range, and can be grown in the southern regions of Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.

M

California

.

Joey

September-October

medium size, egg shaped

purple-black

Very cold hardy

Selected by Joey Ricers in Uvalde, Texas. Produces medium size, egg shaped purple-black fruit. It has excellent flavor. Heavy bearer. Season: September-October.
Can take temperatures down to 15F for short period of time without significant damage.

M

Texas

Lila

September-October

medium size

green

Very cold hardy

Produces medium size, green fruit. Season: September-October. Don't confuse this variety with Lula, which is popular in Florida and used for rootstock (that one is cold hardy to only 25F).
Can take temperatures down to 15F for short period of time without significant damage.

M

Texas

Lula

November-December

Tree is tall, vigorous, upright

bears early and heavily

pear-shaped, sometimes with a neck, medium-large

green

very high

Fruit pear-shaped, sometimes with a neck, medium-large. Skin almost smooth. Flesh pale to greenish-yellow. Oil content 12-16%. Seed large, tight. Season medium-late (November-December). Tree is tall, bears early and heavily. Cold-resistant, successful in Central and South Florida where it is a formerly the leading commercial cultivar. More frost resistant than most. It is renowned for its ability to endure harsh winters, and for its exceptionally long harvesting period. This makes Lula an exceptional choice for homeowners in and around Orlando. Originated from seed from parent tree planted 1915 by Mrs. Lula Cellon at Miami, Florida

GxM

Florida

Mexicola

August to October

Bear early and regularly

spherical to pyriform, very small
3-5 Oz

black,
smooth

very
high

Very small fruit 3-5 Oz. Skin black, thin, smooth. Excellent flavor. Seed large. Very heat- and cold-resistant. It is the most cold hardy variety, may withstand temperatures in the low 20s. Much used as a parent in California breeding programs. Originated at Pasadena, California.

M

California

Mexicola Grande

August to October

Bear early and regularly

spherical to pyriform, very small
3-5 Oz

black,
smooth

very
cold hardy

This variety is similar to Mexicola but much larger fruit. It survived temperatures around 10F near San Antonio, Texas (Zone 8b). Can take temperatures down to 15F for short period of time without significant damage.

M

Texas

Nishikawa

December-January

Vigorous and upright

Oval
large

Average

Nishikawa variety of Avocado is originated in Hawaii. It's a mix of Guatemalan and Mexican avocado type. Average cold hardiness. Ripen in December-January (in Florida), type B. Oval fruit is somewhat resemble Hass variety of avocado, but larger. Has very high oil content. Vigorous and upright growing tree.

GxM

Hawaii

Pollock

July to August

very vigorous tree

Shy-bearing

Oblong to pear-shaped, very larghe, up to 5 lbs

Green,
smooth, glossy

low

Oblong to pear-shaped fruit. very larghe, up to 5 lbs. Green skin, smooth, glossy. Flesh firm, smooth and fin in texture. Deep yellow changing to yellowish-green close to the skin. Contains 3-5% oil. Seed large, frequently loose in cavity. Early season, July to August. Shy-bearing. Fruit too large but of superior quality. originated in Miami on the property of H.S. Pollock.

W

Florida

Poncho

medium to large

green

very
cold hardy

Avocado Poncho. Very cold hardy variety. Produces medium to large green fruit. It survived temperatures around 10F near San Antonio, Texas (Zone 8b). Can take temperatures down to 15F for short period of time without significant damage.

M

Texas

Russel

August-September

Light production

pear shaped with long neck, very long fruit

green

low

Russel is easily recognized by its gourd like shape. The fruit and therefore the tree are very popular among the Latin communities of South Florida. Light production discourages commercial growers, but it remains an excellent choice for the enthusiast. Large fruit, 24-36 Oz. Long fruit up to 13 inches. Skin green, smooth, glossy, thin, leathery. Flesh yellow, excellent quality. Seed small, cavity low in the broad end of the fruit, often a solid neck of flesh 5-6 inches long.

W

Florida

Simmonds

July-September

medium vigor

Regular bearer, but sometimes sheds many fruits

Oblong-oval to pyriform,
large

light green,
Skin smooth

low

Simmonds avocado is South Florida most popular early season avocado. Fruit large, oblong-oval to pyriform. Skin smooth, light green. Flesh of good flavor, oil content 3-6%. Seed medium size, usually tight. Good production, exceptional trade acceptance, and superb eating quality make it an excellent choice for the home garden or grove.

Production is good and it is a consistent bearer
Bears moderately but regularly.

pear-shaped, small to medium

green

high

Dwarf hybrid. Fruit 8-12 oz. Skin medium-thick. Quality good, oil content 18%. It is very compact and slow growing, reaching only about 8-12 feet at maturity. Distinctive weeping growth habit. Suited for planters, containers, patios, greenhouse use. Great for dooryard or container growing. The tree can handle temperatures to 25(F) degrees. The seed is small and fruit skin is smooth.
Fruits ripen green from May to September. The flavor is very good. Production is good and it is a consistent bearer. Bears moderately but regularly. Originated in Encinitas (California) by Roy Wurtz.

G

California

Yamagata

very early
March-July

vigorous and upright, dark green foliage

large, oval-pyriform with a curved neck

green

Medium to low

Yamagata variety is very early. It ripens in Florida in March-April when no other varieties produce fruit. Can ripen over a long season, from March through July. Fruit is large, with a small seed and green skin. Flesh green, smooth, flavor nutty. It's a very fine, gourmet Hawaiian avocado named for agriculture specialist Heiji Yamagata, who develeoped it. According to University of Hawaii consumer poll, Yamagata was selected as one of the best Hawaiian cultivars. Medium to low cold hardiness. Very vigorous and upright growing tree.

W

Hawaii

Poncho

large

green

Very cold hardy

Produces medium to large green fruit. Cold hardy to 15F.
Can take temperatures down to 15F for short period of time without significant damage.

Cold hardy avocados are of Mexican origin. They are self fertile. They have thin, tender skin that clings to the flesh. The flesh has a high oil content, up to 30%. Some varieties have leaves with pronounced anise-like scent. These avocados are known to be grown around San-Antonio, Texas (Zone 8b). Avocado planted there were damaged, but not killed at 10F. As general rule, these varieties can tolerate temperatures down to 15F for short period of time without significant damages.

Important things to consider:

Small plants are very tender and susceptible to cold weather. When a freeze is expected, mound mulch around the trunk for additional protection. Cover the tree with a blanket. During severe freezes, add a string of lights or a small heater under the covers. Mature trees are more cold resistant and do not need this extra protection.

Cold tolerance depends on many factors. Plant location and wind protection are very important. Plant a tree, so it'll be protected from cold wind, which is much more dangerous than cold itself. Plant avocados in the warmest location in the residential landscape, usually the south or southeast side of the house.

Healthy, well taken care of, plants are more cold tolerant.

Very important: Humidity plays important role. In general, plants grown in areas with dry, low humidity winter are more cold tolerant, than plant grown in area with wet winter. For example, a plant can withstand 10-15F in dry Texas climate, but may tolerate only 15-20F in wet East Coast climate. Avocado needs very little water during cold. It's very sensitive to over-watering. There is no faster way to kill the plant than too much water during cold spell. The good drainage is the most important factor to consider when planting an avocado tree. In areas with poor drainage, create a mound of soil and plant the tree on the mound.